CHARLOTTE, NC– Parents in Union County made their opposition to a school redistricting plan heard tonight. They’re upset over the plan that would move almost 6,000 students to new schools to help ease overcrowding and manage new growth.
The goal for parents like Phuong White: make their fierce disapproval against the plan known and have their voices heard loud and clear. “Their strategy? They are lies. They just want to move the kids because at the end of the day it’s all about money and control,” says White.
For Porter Ridge Sophomore Ben Cawthon, this was his only chance to speak directly to the people in charge of his education. He says his voice speaks for thousands of other students in Union County. “I really wanted to drive home that this is not good for our system and they need to do something to fix it,” says Cawthon.
Cawthon says talks about redistricting have already begun to create a divide among students in surrounding schools. If the plan goes through, he worries their “Union” County will only become more divided.
The second public hearing is Monday night at Parkwood High School. During a special meeting Thursday, Union County Commissioners again approved giving the School Board $3 million to purchase 49 mobile classrooms to avoid the redistricting. This time, they’re making it clear there are no strings attached.
